Guido was listening to the news from the Middle East on Radio Galatz* (he finds it has a more balanced approach to Israel/Palestine issues than the BBC), when he heard the news that David Miliband had dinner with his relatives who live in a settlement near Jericho.

The UN declared “illegal” settlements being visited by the Foreign Secretary foreign minister? That would be a bit of a breakthrough change in British policy. The Jerusalem Post has followed-up the story.

Not true says his office – and the British Embassy in Israel is desperately trying to kill the story.

UPDATE : Miliband did give profuse thanks to the Israeli football team on his visit. “Every Englishman is a friend of Israel today, an even greater friend of Israel. We thank you very, very much. It’s amazing after our partnership in science, in politics, in education — we have a partnership now in sport and in football especially. I think it’s wonderful. So I give the foreign minister the personal credit for the performance of the team yesterday”. English football supporters will be even more grateful if Gordon Brown stays away from the England-Croatia game. It has not gone unnoticed that the Brown match-jinx hit Scotland as well. Every match Brown attends England loses…